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Living in
Lake Stevens.
About
Life in Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens is a straightforward suburban choice if you want quick access to Seattle and the Puget Sound region without living in the city proper. The 35-minute average commute to Seattle is reasonable for the area, though keep in mind that most workers here drive solo—public transit is minimal. Housing costs are substantial at a median home price around $635,600 and median rent of $2,224 monthly, reflecting the broader Puget Sound market, but the median household income of $122,336 gives many residents solid footing.
Lake Stevens at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Foreign-Born
13.1%
Broadband Internet
94.9%
of households
Population Growth
+8.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.1% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Lake Stevens: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake Stevens, the largest foreign-born group is from India (21.4%), and 5.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
29.1%
of residents
65 and Older
8.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
47.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.6%
of households
Married Couples
61.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.92
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Stevens
In Lake Stevens, rent runs 26% above the WA average, and home values are 13% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,259
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $685,861 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Lake Stevens and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lake Stevens is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lake Stevens Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute35.2 min avg
How Lake Stevens residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Stevens, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 47% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE)
Regional airport · few flights306k passengers boarded in 2025
- 41 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 70% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lake Stevens runs 70% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
97.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
655.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lake Stevens Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 1 event in 2023
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Snohomish County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Snohomish County, which includes Lake Stevens, the most common type is flood, with 1 recorded event in 2023.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2021 | 2 | Flood | $2.7M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
27 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Snohomish County, county-wide
Lake Stevens is about 5% of Snohomish County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Snohomish County, which includes Lake Stevens, is typically good — 248 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
248
per year
Moderate Days
116
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Snohomish County, county-wide
Lake Stevens is about 5% of Snohomish County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate73°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Stevens has mild summers (avg high 73°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
73°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
3.0"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
51
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
178
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 35°F | 5.04" |
| Feb | 50°F | 35°F | 3.70" |
| Mar | 55°F | 37°F | 4.11" |
| Apr | 60°F | 41°F | 3.40" |
| May | 66°F | 47°F | 2.70" |
| Jun | 70°F | 52°F | 2.30" |
| Jul | 75°F | 55°F | 1.04" |
| Aug | 76°F | 55°F | 1.15" |
| Sep | 70°F | 50°F | 2.34" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.70" |
| Nov | 52°F | 38°F | 5.82" |
| Dec | 47°F | 34°F | 4.95" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Stevens
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lake Stevens's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Everett
Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 10.3 mi away · Marysville
Evergreenhealth Monroe
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 mi away · Monroe
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens's student/teacher ratio is 19.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 35.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lake Stevens (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 4,709 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 43% graduate · median earnings $51,095 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 30 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (30 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
30 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
30 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
31 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
64 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
74 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens Library
2211 Grade Road, Lake Stevens
Cities Near Lake Stevens
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake Stevens?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake Stevens FAQ
Is Lake Stevens, Washington affordable?⌄
Lake Stevens's median rent is $2,224/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $122,336/year. Median home value is $635,600.
Is Lake Stevens, Washington safe?⌄
Lake Stevens's violent crime rate was 98 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 656 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Stevens, Washington?⌄
Lake Stevens has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake Stevens, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Lake Stevens is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,224/month and median household income is $122,336/year. The median home value is $635,600. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake Stevens, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Lake Stevens is 35 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from